Nissan Qashqai: UK 2011 changes

The Nissan Qashqai n-tec 2011 with its posh new alloys

Nissan has revealed the 2011 updates for the Nissan Qashqai and Qashqai +2 including Euro 5 engines, DPF, Chrome Pack and enhanced n-Tec trim pack.

We reported last week on the changes revealed for the 2011 Nissan Qashqai in Japan (the Nissan Dualis), and speculated that some of these, and perhaps others, would spill over to the Nissan Qashqai in the UK and Europe. So it was no huge surprise to get an email from Nissan this morning detailing changes to the Qashqai for 2011 in the UK.

Stop/Start turns up as an option for the first time on the 1.6 litre petrol Qashqais (for £200) which, if you can get in to the habit of sticking the car in neutral and foot off the clutch every time you grind to a halt in traffic, can yield decent fuel savings. To be honest, I find it hard to sit around in neutral – I just don’t feel ‘In Control’. Still, good option for many and it drops the 1.6 litre a VED band.

On the diesel front all engines now get a DPF (diesel particulate filter) and the 1.5 dCi gets 4 extra horses thanks to tweaking to make the Qashqai’s engined Euro 5 compliant. Those same tweaks also give the 1.6 petrol a couple of extra horses (and torques).

The Qashqai n-Tec also gets a tweak for 2011 and an upgrade, with some nice 18″ alloys fitted as standard (previously a £400 option). And for £250 you can get a Chrome Pack for the Qashqai n-tec and Qashqai+2 n-tec which will give you chrome handles, fog lamp surrounds and side strips – and looks to be the same as the Dualis got in Japan. The Chrome Pack also includes door and tailgate entry guards and carpet mats.

The 2011 Nissan Qashqai and Qashqai+2 is now available to order in the UK with first customer deliveries due in October.

Sensible tweaks to keep the Qashqai on top of its game.